PHOTO: Clearing New Campsites

ELIZABETH — In Union County’s Watchung Reservation, members of Boy Scout Troop 23 in Elizabeth work on an Eagle Scout project led by Michael Albuquerque of Elizabeth. As part of the project, the scouts cleared out two new camping areas, along with setting fire rings in each. The areas will be seeded as well and improvements made to two existing sites. The project will increase the number of campsites for scouting and other youth groups to four, enabling upwards of 400 youngsters to camp out in the area, which is just above Lake Surprise. The Watchung Reservation camping area includes picnic shelters, along with water and sanitary facilities. The new campsites are expected to be available to groups as of September. Albuquerque, who coordinated the project, will be a freshman this fall at Rutgers University in Newark.